Beyond the Screen: 5 Breathtaking 'Set-Jetting' Locations to Visit This Year

By: Zoey Stewart Last updated: 06/17/2026

Have you ever finished a season finale and immediately opened a travel booking app? You are definitely not alone. It is 2026, and the way we choose our next vacation has shifted. We are no longer just looking at traditional travel brochures or listening to generic travel agents. Instead, we are letting our favorite streaming services plan our itineraries.

This is the world of set-jetting, the phenomenon of traveling to real-world locations featured in movies, TV shows, and books.¹ What started as a niche hobby for die-hard fans has grown into a dominant force in the global travel industry.

In the US alone, set-jetting is now an 8 billion dollar market.³ Globally, the film tourism market is on track to hit over 145 billion dollars by 2035.

So why are we doing this? Think of it like bringing our favorite stories to life. A massive 81% of Gen Z and Millennial travelers now plan their vacations based on locations they see on screen. We want to feel an emotional connection to the characters and step right into the scenes we spent hours watching on our couches. It is about trading passive screen time for real-world experiences. We are looking for main character energy and authentic memories.

This shift has also changed how we view accommodation. The White Lotus Effect has proven that travelers do not just want to visit a city. They want to book the exact luxury hotels featured on screen. When a show becomes a hit, the featured resort becomes the destination.

5 Must-Visit Destinations for the Modern Fan

If you are ready to plan your next trip, these five incredible spots are taking center stage in 2026. They offer the perfect mix of cinematic magic and genuine local culture.

• Koh Samui, Thailand: This gorgeous island is the star of the third season of The White Lotus. It is famous for its palm-fringed beaches, coconut groves, and thick rainforests. If you want to experience the exact luxury wellness vibe from the show, look at booking a stay at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui or the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas. Booking interest for these spots jumped 40% before the season even hit our screens.²

• Favignana and the Aeolian Islands, Sicily: Christopher Nolan is releasing his massive IMAX epic The Odyssey in July 2026, and these islands are the backdrop. Favignana has ancient tuff quarries that are now stunning natural turquoise pools and secluded coves. It is a relatively untouched Mediterranean gem, making it the perfect spot if you want to escape the usual crowds and see where Nolan filmed the landing of Odysseus and his crew.

• Yorkshire, England: Thanks to Emerald Fennell's new adaptation of Wuthering Heights starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, alongside the grand finale of Downton Abbey, Yorkshire is seeing a massive 60% increase in travel searches.³ You can hike through the moody, mist-covered moors of the Yorkshire Dales National Park or book a room at Simonstone Hall, where the cast actually stayed.

• The French Riviera: Production for the fourth season of The White Lotus is already moving through Cannes, Saint-Tropez, and Monaco. Luxury travel demands for this area are up over 50% compared to last year. If you want to beat the crowd, check out spots like COMO Le Beauvallon in Saint-Tropez to get a taste of that classic European glamour and exclusive beach club culture before the rest of the world arrives.

• Malta: Ridley Scott's Gladiator II brought ancient history back to life, and Malta was the perfect host. The production built a giant replica of the Roman Colosseum at Fort Ricasoli. Now, travelers are heading to this sun-drenched Mediterranean archipelago to explore real ancient ruins, dramatic coastal cliffs, and 7,000 years of history.

The Infrastructure Behind the Magic

When a camera crew rolls into a town, they do not just make a movie. They bring a huge economic engine with them. Like, Thailand hosted over 300 foreign productions in early 2025, bringing in more than 90 million US dollars.

Once the show airs, the benefits keep coming. Taormina in Sicily saw a 2 million euro boost in hospitality spending after its turn on television. In places like Dubrovnik, locals who worked as extras on fantasy shows are now making sustainable careers as specialized tour guides.

To keep up with this demand, destination marketing organizations are adapting quickly. They are upgrading roads, public transit, and airport facilities to make travel smoother for incoming fans.

But this sudden spotlight is a double-edged sword. When millions of fans descend on a small town, the local infrastructure can buckle.

Take Koh Samui as an example. The island has a local population of about 70,000 people. When millions of tourists arrive to chase their favorite show, it leads to severe water shortages, waste management problems, and damage to the local coral reefs. It is a tough balancing act for local communities trying to welcome visitors without losing their homes. Finding a balance between commercializing a filming site and maintaining its original charm is the biggest challenge facing these destinations today.

Travel Responsibly by Navigating Overtourism

So, how do we visit these incredible places without ruining them? It starts with how we plan our journeys.

Many tourism boards are trying to guide fans away from the most crowded spots. The Tourism Authority of Thailand, like, launched a campaign that uses film maps to direct visitors to lesser-known cities and rural areas. This helps spread the economic benefits and keeps the main attractions from getting crushed.

We can also learn from places like Maya Bay. After years of damage from too many boats and tourists, the bay closed down to let the coral reefs recover. It reopened with strict visitor caps and a pre-booking system.

If you are planning a trip to a famous filming site in 2026, consider these simple approaches:

• Travel during the shoulder season: Visiting Yorkshire in late autumn or Sicily in early spring helps reduce the environmental load and gives you a much quieter experience.

• Support local businesses: Spend your money at locally-owned shops and restaurants rather than international luxury chains to make sure your money stays in the community.

• Explore secondary locations: Ask locals about other beautiful spots nearby that did not make it onto the screen but offer the same natural beauty.

Beyond the Credits: Creating Your Own Cinematic Journey

At its heart, set-jetting is about more than just grabbing a quick photo for your social media feed. It is an opportunity to connect with a place on a deeper level.

When you visit Malta or the French Riviera, take the time to learn the actual history of the cliffs and castles you are standing on. Talk to the locals, eat the local food, and respect the environment.

In 2026, travel is about creating a meaningful connection with the world. By planning your screen-inspired trip with care, you can turn a fun fandom experience into a journey you will remember for the rest of your life. After all, the best stories are the ones we experience for ourselves.